Peadar Clohessy
Ceist:86 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Finance if he will widen the remit of the Ombudsman to include military affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3984/95]
Written Answers. - Remit of Ombudsman.
Under the Ombudsman Act 1980, the Ombudsman may not investigate any action if it relates to or affects national security or military activity. The Schedule to that Act excludes the defence forces, by name, from the remit of the Ombudsman. In addition, the Act precludes, in general terms, any investigation of recruitment, appointment or terms and conditions of employment insofar as the bodies within the remit of the Ombudsman are concerned.
I refer the Deputy to a response given by my colleague, the Minister for Defence on 31 January, to a question by Deputy Penrose, when he stated that the issue of an Ombudsman for military affairs could be considered if the reformed procedures for redressing wrongs and grievances — a draft scheme of which has been issued to the PDF representative associations — do not meet requirements.
I would also refer to the Government's programme of work entitled A Government of Renewal where we undertook to introduce legislation to extend the remit of the Ombudsman. This will involve a review of the exemptions to the Ombudsman's jurisdiction in existing law in the context of a major extension of the Office's powers. In that connection, developments in the defence forces will be taken into account.